Chapter Text
In the cool night air on their balcony, Mai was sitting in the rocking chair while feeding her infant in her arms.
Izumi had been born 10 weeks ago, during a midnight like this, in between fear and hope.
“Izumi!” she uttered softly, just like every time, saying her name melted like sugar in her mouth. Mai was the one to pick her name. She wanted a name with similar sounds to Zuko and Mai, but not quite obvious. They agreed if it was a girl the name would be Izumi and if a boy, it was going to be Lu Ten.
A smile lingered in her face for so long now, as Izumi carefully watched her with her big shiny eyes, as if trying to memorize exactly all the features of her mother’s face. "So now you know me, right? When will you say mama?" Izumi popped out and smiled. This was a social smile, Mai could tell. She let out a long happy coo in her soft voice. She smelled sweet and milky and Mai fixed her little cozy cotton blanket.
“You’re too sweet my little Izumi, I can’t stop seeing your pretty face even when I’m sleeping.”
Indeed, she was listening, and answering with a gummy smile and more coos.
“Oh how much love I have for you! I don’t want to stop the eye contact, but we should do this anyway”
She lifted her on her shoulder and patted her back gently to make her burp. She was cooing even louder now. Mai winced at the sharp backache.
"You're not sleepy? You also like the nights more? Another win for me?" Izumi took a strand of her hair in her fist. "Ouch!" She knew how strong her clenched fist was and it wasn’t worth trying.
"Our friends are coming to see you today!"
"Aaaaa"
"Do you think Appa and Druk will get along? Shall we separate them?"
She burped.
"Valid answer. "She kissed her forehead.
She turned her in her arms to sway her. "Oh what's that in the sky? Is that Appa?” As the object in the sky got closer, she knew they were coming.
"Zuko wake up. They're here!" She went back in the room.
"Now??" He murmured with a dry raspy voice.
"Yeah I spotted Appa!"
“Okay. How are you Mai?”
“I’m fine! Hurry.”
“Izumi?” He yawned
“She’s awake, alright. Just get up.”
“Your back?”
“I already told you I’m fine!”
She covered Izumi in a second, warmer blanket and they went downstairs to welcome them.
Zuko firebent to light the torches in a second. His yawn changed to a smile as they landed. Appa landed on the floor and rumbled.
The guests climbed down and walked toward the royal family as they also walked closer.
“Welcome everyone!” Said Zuko.
“Oh she's so tiny! She's awake!” Toph said as she sensed her in Mai's arms before anyone.
Katara ran to Mai first. "It's so good to see you again! And you're a mother now!" Her energetic voice did not have a trace of sleepiness.
"Hi Katara. I'm so glad you're here!"
All of them circled the new parents. Aang was the last one to join, as Two-year-old, sleeping Bumi was on his back and he patted Appa to let him rest after a long flight.
“Flameo little baby is so cute! Congrats Hotman!” Said Aang quietly to not wake Bumi up.
Sokka said with an unusually formal voice, “We are more than honored to congratulate the Firelord and Firelady on the arrival of their… FIREBABY!!!” The tone changed to a silly loud voice at the end. It made Izumi fuss.
“So even the babies aren’t safe from the nicknames!” Zuko protested.
“Of course not. Bumi is now just Sokka’s Oversized Bumirang. He throws him!” Said Toph. “Just a friendly warning.”
“Hey Mai, you look healthy and fine!” Said Suki with a hand on her shoulder. “Can I hold the princess for a moment?”
“Sure!” she placed the tiny warm thing tenderly in her arms as she still felt her phantom heartbeat on herself.
“She’s adorable!” Said Suki.
“Awww small doll!” Sokka gently poked her covered forehead, and it made her head move for an invisible inch, which annoyed the parents.
“Let’s go inside…I don’t want a fussy baby once again.” Said Zuko and took her daughter from Suki and Sokka.
“Again? Did she have a cold already?” Asked Katara
“Yeah, kind of, but we got through it with the help of grandmothers!” Answered Zuko.
“I didn’t know people still catch colds in the Fire Nation!” Said Sokka.
“This one wasn’t funny.” Said Toph.
“It was, you’re just sleepy. But don’t you guys catch fire instead of a cold? As it increases the temperature…your fieriness!” Said Aang.
A new little raspy voice joined them: “Mommy?”
A bigger baby was waking up with terrible hair.
Katara took her from Aang’s back "Yes sweetie. We arrived!"
“Where’s baby?” Said Bumi, more like ‘wez bibi’.
Zuko showed him the tiny thing in his arms. “Bumi! You look so big next to her!”
"Hi baby” Bumi waited a few seconds. “No Hi?” Katara laughed. “She can’t answer you Honey! She’s so small!”
“Huuuuh.” He yawned and closed his eyes again.
“Let me take you to your rooms, everyone! Have a good rest, and I’ll wait for you for breakfast.” Said Zuko.
“There’s no way we’ll wake up anytime before lunch.” Informed Toph
“Me neither.” Said Mai.
“OK, then… sleep well! Just let me know if you need anything…and I’ll make sure a good lunch—”
Toph poked him. “Guess becoming a dad has done something to you! Relax.”
“It’s not our first time here buddy. Ease up!” Said Aang.
He smiled. “Fine Then! we’re leaving!” He joined Mai who was waiting a few steps away. Izumi was finally asleep, as if processing seeing and hearing new people drained her energy.